The messy and public departure of one head coach, the arrival of another, unprecedented (at least in recent years) squad churn in a January transfer window, greeting a new team-mate who ultimately wouldn’t be a new team-mate a week later, all amid a run of results that had plunged Rovers closer to the bottom three, plus the ongoing uncertainty over the funding of the club, it’s not been the easiest time to be associated with Blackburn Rovers.

Players aren’t robots, they aren’t immune to the situation, and will have been hurting. It has been a testing time.

Supporters too needed something to grab on to, John Eustace something to launch his era as head coach.

That all seemed to fall into place in a breathtaking cup tie, how good to see Ewood alive, a reminder of what went before, and a desire to be again. This felt the night where fans connected with a new-look Rovers team which will be required in these final 12 league games. The scheduling of the FA Cup, a midweek switch for last 16 ties, does little to dampen the narrative that everything is set up in Premier League teams’ favour.

Seemingly created by the top-flight teams’ desire for a winter break, it looks to play into the hands of those with bigger squads and deeper resources with games seemingly squeezed into the fixture list. In the end, a night under the Ewood lights only added to the sense of occasion, yet did affect Rovers’ approach.

Were Rovers not playing their sixth game in 17 days, with three to follow in the next 10, there likely wouldn’t have been the need for the changes we saw in the second half. Eustace resisted any temptation to rest and rotate from the start, going as he strong as he probably could, though with the acceptance of everyone that those alterations would come in the second half. His strong selection was a show towards the integrity and history of the competition, but one which didn’t really feel like it was repaying Rovers.

The worry was that the changes available to both teams would play into Newcastle’s hands, and it looked that way when Anthony Gordon eventually broke through Rovers’ resistance. Yet there was no quit in Rovers who summoned up the energy to take the game to their Premier League visitors and claim a deserved equaliser to send the game to extra-time and beyond.

At this juncture I will declare an interest that I am, have been, and will continue to be, a massive John Buckley fan. I’m a sucker for his style of player. Seeing the team ahead of the game, and the unfortunate absence of Sondre Tronstad, it promised to be a huge night for Buckley in what was just his sixth Rovers start in the last 12 months. Yet that sense of responsibility, of a challenge, of testing himself against better players, is something I was confident would bring the best out of him.

When he doesn’t feel that, he can drop below the standards that displays such as the one against Newcastle show he is capable of, snarling at the heels of Bruno Guimaraes, playing on the edge without the ball and on it with the calmness of someone who wants to dictate the game. He left to a standing ovation, his return to the fold alongside Adam Wharton’s departure has placed pressure on his shoulders, but on the evidence of his showings since coming back from injury, it’s one he is more than up and will relish.

Kyle McFadzean wasn’t far behind in departing, another rock-solid display from the experienced central defender who has marshalled Rovers’ new-look back three. To his left was Scott Wharton who has looked rejuvenated in recent weeks, part of a defensive effort that put in some herculean blocks, and even when out on his feet in the closing stages, put his body on the line for the cause.

This was a performance at the level of those when returning from his long-term injury at the end of 2021.

Aynsley Pears too had a night to savour, his double stop in extra-time as good as you will see. The Blackburn End stood to its feet behind him, needing to quickly come up with a chant to serenade him with. That only added to the sense of how big a night this was for so many players, previously unheralded or untried. It gave them the platform to showcase what they can do.

Dilan Markanday, so often on the fringes, impressed off the bench, and would have levelled before Sam Szmodics did were it not for a fine Martin Dubravka save. Yasir Ayari too got chance to push forward his case after an underwhelming first start at Cardiff City, and Billy Koumetio too finally got an opportunity on the first-team stage.

It too was a big night for the head coach. He wanted his players to play with freedom, and they did. He’s wanted them to be hard to break through, and they were. He wants a connection with supporters, for them to be proud of their team. No-one leaving Ewood, at a much later than advertised time, could argue against that.

It was a testing night on the body, many players out on their feet, fuelled by adrenaline and shaking off cramp to get through the 120 minutes. While bodies will be aching and sore, spirits and belief should be raised on the back of such a display, among supporters, as well as players.